The rider is on the ground, but her one boot remains trapped in its stirrup and her frantic mount is dragging her across the lane. She begs it to stand still, her voice shaking with fear and pain as she strains to free herself. Startled by Jack’s sudden appearance, the horse throws back its head and whinnies in alarm. Its eyes roll until all Jack can see are its bloodshot whites as it wheels around, reins swinging loose on its barrel chest. The girl cries out as she is flung back against the road.

‘Easy, chap, easy …’ Jack’s tone is soothing as he opens his arms, trying to envelop the horse in his aura of calm. He takes a tentative step forward, issuing gentle reassurances to the terrified creature. ‘Keep still now, miss. I’ve nearly got him.’

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she assures him through clenched teeth.

The horse stamps and snorts and backs away. Jack inches closer until finally he is able to grab the loose rein and though the horse throws back its head, he manages to slip his fingers under the bridle and steady him at last.

‘Here now, let me help,’ he says, holding the horse fast while reaching for the stirrup leather. With a groan, the girl finally succeeds in freeing her boot. It thuds onto the ground. She lies back in the dirt, breathing hard.

‘Thank you.’ She props herself up on her elbows, wincing.

‘Are you hurt? I mean, stupid question, but …’

‘I’m all right, I think. It could have been a lot worse. Bloody van!’

‘Aye, he nearly knocked us flying and all.’

She is pale, deathly so. The glitter he witnessed earlier in her eyes has vanished like fairy dust. Now they are leaden and dull.

‘Here, let me help you up …’ He releases the bridle, but as he moves towards her the horse skittishly sidesteps, its hooves coming too close to the stricken rider for comfort. Jack goes for the reins, but the horse lunges at him with bared teeth and as he recoils it bolts, cantering down the road, the empty stirrups jiggling against its flanks as it disappears around the corner. The girl calls after him, but her voice breaks and fades with the horse’s ringing hooves.

‘Miss?’ Jack drops into a crouch beside her. ‘Miss?’

‘Just … a minute …’ She squeezes her eyes shut and pants in sharp bursts, battling against the pain. A bruise is already forming on the side of her face.

‘I should go and get some help,’ Jack says.

‘Don’t worry … it’s not my first tumble.’ She manages to sit up, emitting little gasps as she moves.

‘Steady now,’ Jack says.

‘Can you help me stand?’

‘Aye …’